March 5, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Tony Thomas, Jr., of Florida State has been selected Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Week for March 5, while Duke's Michael Ness earned Pitcher of the Week accolades. Both players helped their respective teams post 4-0 records in non-conference action last week.

Earning his second league weekly honor this season, Thomas continued his hot hitting streak as he compiled a .611 mark (11-for-18) for the week and helped the Seminoles defeat North Florida and sweep the series against Siena. He registered at least two hits and did not hit below .400 in all four games. The Valrico, Fla., native recorded five doubles on the week, including three in Sunday's 22-3 win against Siena. The junior second baseman also slugged 1.111 and tallied an on-base percentage of .667. He was also perfect from the field in 17 chances. In an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies last week, Thomas led off the game with a solo home run off starter Kyle Drabek, the Phillies No. 1 draft pick in 2006.

Ness, a freshman from Chatham, N.J., picked up his first weekly league award of his career after collecting a pair of wins last week. In his first career start against North Carolina A&T last Tuesday, he held the Aggies to one earned run on four hits in six innings of work. He also recorded four strikeouts in the win without allowing a walk. On Saturday versus Holy Cross, the right-handed hurler came on in relief after Duke fell behind 5-0 and guided the Blue Devils to a 10-7 victory. Ness held the Crusaders to one earned run on two hits in 3.1 innings of relief. He had two strikeouts in the win and did not give up a walk. On the week, Ness posted a 1.93 ERA and allowed only two earned runs on just six hits in 9.1 innings pitched. He also registered six strikeouts in the two wins without allowing a walk.

Florida State and Duke are back in action this week. The Seminoles will put their perfect record on the line when they host a three-game series against Indiana on March 9-11. The Blue Devils make a quick return to the diamond, playing one game against both Temple and Xavier on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, before opening ACC action versus Boston College this weekend.